Arcuate sprinkler

ABSTRACT

A sprinkler having a body with an outwardly extending flange and an upstanding ring which acts as guard for a nozzle. The nozzle has an orifice arranged to spray a pattern of water over a segmented area. A deflector wire is mounted on the nozzle, adjacent to and above the orifice where it will deflect a part of the water passing through the orifice upwardly and outwardly from the nozzle so as to effectively distribute water to points closely adjacent to the sprinkler head itself, thereby eliminating the need for excessive pattern overlap in sprinkler distribution systems.

United States Patent Jones [451 Mar. 21, 1972 ARCUATE SPRINKLER [72] Inventor: Adrian L. Jones, 73 West Truman Ave.,

Salt Lake City, Utah 841 15 [22] Filed: Jan.21, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 108,341

[52] U.S. Cl. ..239/5l6, 239/DIG. 1, 239/201,

239/505, 507, 508, 512, 518, 521, 597, 598, 201, 203, 200, 202, 513, 516, 517, DIG. l, 519

2,785,005 3/1957 Thompson ..239/598 X 2,850,326 9/1958 Kofford ..239/513 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,537 10/1866 Great Britain ..239/5l6 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant Attorney-B. Deon Criddle [57] ABSTRACT A sprinkler having a body with an outwardly extending flange and an upstanding ring which acts as guard for a nozzle. The nozzle has an orifice arranged to spray a pattern of water over a segmented area. A deflector wire is mounted on the nozzle, [56] Reterences cued adjacent to and above the orifice where it will deflect a part of UNITED STATES PATENTS the water passing through the orifice upwardly and outwardly from the nozzle so as to effectively distribute water to points 1305,41 l 6/1919 239/517 closely adjacent to the sprinkler head itself, thereby eliminat- 11776455 9/1930 Thompson 239/598 X ing the need for excessive pattern overlap in sprinkler distribu- 2,187,779 1/1940 Gardner..... 239/519 X on systems. 2,540,663 2/1951 Garey 239/519 X 2,701,165 2/1955 Bete et a1 ....239/508 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 26 22 I60 b E i \'\\\i\\ S\ T \\N 24 Pmfimzm m I972 3,650,478

INVENTOR: ADRIAN L. JONES ATTORNEY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to sprinkler and sprinkler nozzles adapted to spray water and/or liquid chemicals over a segmented area.

2. Prior Art It has long been recognized that there is a need for a low cost sprinkler unit that will provide a thorough distribution of water and/or chemicals throughout its entire area of coverage. My currently pending US. Patent application, Ser. No. 786,272, discloses such a sprinkler unit that affords a uniform distribution throughout an entire circular throughout an entire circular pattern, but while this sprinkler unit is well suited to distribute liquid throughout a full circle it is not capable of a segmented pattern distribution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a body or housing having an upstanding ring somewhat similar to that shown in my aforementioned pending application but incorporates a nozzle having a discharge orifice through which liquids are discharged over an arcuate area and includes means for breaking up the discharging spray to insure uniform coverage of the largest portion of the area subjected to sprinkling but with a disproportionately increased volume of water applied to the boundaries radiating from the nozzle.

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a sprinkler capable of distributing liquids in a predetermined arcuate pattern, that is low in cost, reliable, and that can be safely used in permanently installed sprinkler systems. Another object is to provide a nozzle for such a sprinkler that will provide a thorough liquid distribution throughout the entire pat tern covered by the sprinkler in spite of variations in the input pressure to the nozzle. It is also an object to provide a nozzle which can be used as an insert in virtually any type of permanent or movable sprinkler system and that can be used to distribute water and liquified or dissolved chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides unifonnly throughout all of its distribution pattern, except for a section close to the boundaries of the pattern radiating from the nozzle where an increased volume is applied.

Principle features of the present invention include a nozzle having a passage through which incoming liquid is directed into a blind bore. The liquid striking the blind bore is directed back and swirled through an orifice in the form of a slit in the head of the nozzle. The slit looks like and is commonly referred to in the trade as a smile and the smile directs liquid from the interior of the head out over a definite pattern area determined by the length and shape of the smile. A curved diverter wire is positioned to be parallel and adjacent to the smile and its ends are anchored to the housing of the nozzle. The wire is positioned to be above the longitudinal center of the smile, diverts a portion of the water passed through the smile and angularly directs it upwardly so that it will land in an area close to the sprinkler.

Conventional screw type adjustment means are preferably included as part of the nozzle with which the volume of water flow through the sprinkler unit can be controlled. Bent ends of the diverter wire are preferably anchored in holes drilled downwardly and inwardly on either side of the smile. The ends are therefore secured and the curved portion of the wire is inherently flexible with respect to the secured ends. Thus, if the curved portion is deflected it will tend to resume its assigned position when the deflecting force is removed. The bends between the ends and the curved section also apparently concentrate a disproportionate flow along the boundaries of the distribution pattern radiating from the nozzle.

The nozzle of the invention is readily installed in a sprinkler body formed of an easily cut material and that has an outwardly extending flange to hold vegetation away from the sprinkler nozzle. An upstanding ring is positioned around the nozzle to absorb impact and to guard the nozzle and particularly the wire deflector against damage.

Score lines on the flange and holes providing means whereby a spanner wrench can be used to turn the body such that even unskilled persons can properly install the unit.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the sprinkler unit with broken lines showing where the flange can be cut away to allow for close positioning with respect to an area that is not to be subjected to sprinkling;

Flg. 2 a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a somewhat schematic side elevation view showing a typical distribution pattern of liquid distributed through the nozzle of the invention;

FIG. 4, a view like FIG. 3, but taken from above a sprinkler unit;

FIG. 5, a top plan view of the nozzle;

FIG. 6, a vertical section, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7, a side elevation view of the nozzle; and

FIG. 8, a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings;

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, a nozzle shown generally at 10 is fitted into a sprinkler body 11, to form a complete sprinkler unit.

The sprinkler body 11 has a depending boss 12, FIG. 2, that is interiorly threaded at 13 to be connected to a tee 14, FIG. 4, or other suitable fitting of a liquid supply system.

A flange 14 extends outwardly with respect to boss 12 and serves to hold down vegetation in the area immediately surrounding nozzle 10. This keeps vegetation from obstructing flow through or discharge from nozzle 10. The flange 15 and preferably also the entire body 11 is formed from plastic or other easily cut durable material so thata portion of the flange can be readily cut away and the sprinkler unit can be set closely against an area which is not to be watered, such as a sidewalk, curb or driveway.

A pair of recesses 16a and 16b, arranged at opposite sides of the nozzle in the flange 15, provide means whereby a spanner wrench, not shown, can be used to thread the body into the fitting 14 of the liquid supply system to which it is to be attached. Score lines 15a and 15b indicate cutting lines for shaping the flange to fit against an area not intended to be sprinkled. If the sprinkler unit is to be set against a continuous straight edge, such as, for example, a sidewalk only one score line need be cut, and a half-circle nozzle, turned to discharge in a proper direction, would be used. If however, the sprinkler unit is to be used in a corner situation, adjacent to the intersection of a sidewalk and a driveway, FIG. 4, for example, both score lines would be cut and a quarter circle nozzle would be used. The recesses 16a and 16b are positioned in the same quadrant formed by the intersecting score lines as is the nozzle, so they will be available for turning the housing whether the flange is cut along one or both score lines.

Nozzle 10 is exteriorly threaded to be screwed into a threaded well 17 in the boss 12, above the threads 13. An upstanding ring 18 surrounds well 17 and the nozzle 10 and extends above the top edge of the nozzle when the nozzle is fully threaded into the well 17.

As previously noted, the sprinkler body 11 is preferably made of plastic, with ring 18 serving as a shock absorbing guard against damage to the nozzle while at the same time absorbing the impact of children or others who may fall onto the sprinkler.

Nozzle 10 includes a boss 19 having a interiorly threaded central passage 20 and a passage 21 offset from the central passage. The exterior of the nozzle is threaded at 22 and a hexagon shaped head 23 facilitates threading of the nozzle into the sprinkler body 1 1.

An adjustment screw 24, having a kerfed upper end 24a to receive a screw driver blade, is screwed into the threaded central passage 20. Screw 24 has a flange 25 at its other end to cooperate with an annular seat 11b (FIG. 2) within sprinkler body 11. The screw 24 can be positioned such that flange 25 is against the bottom of nozzle 10, or against seat 11b, or at any desired position therebetween to thereby control volume of flow through the nozzle. Liquid moving through seat 11b and passing flange 25, travels through offset passage 21 into a blind bore 26 formed in the underside of a head 27 of the nozzle. The liquid is deflected back and out by blind bore 26 and is forced through and out of the slit or smile 28 in a sprinkler pattern. Smile 28 provides a directing passage through which a liquid spray pattern is established as to its shape and dimensions. The size of the smile will determine whether a half circle spray pattern, a quarter circle spray pattern, or some other segment pattern will result. The use of nozzles having smiles to govern a sprinkler distribution pattern is well known and such nozzles generally sprinkle over a predetermined area. However, with the nozzles heretofore known the liquid pattern formed is not uniform throughout the entire spray pattern and the greatest concentration of water is in an arc a spaced distance away from the nozzle. To insure uniform coverage of the greatest portion of the segment sprinkled, i.e., area A in FIG. 4, and an excess application to areas along the boundary lines radiating from the nozzle, i.e., areas A, in FIG. 4, diverter wire 29 is positioned to have a curved portion 29 a slightly forwardly of smile 28 and at or slightly above the top of the smile. The wire 29, skims off or diverts a portion of the liquid sprayed from smile 28 and directs the diverted portion up and out, as shown in FIG. 3, such that it is distributed over an area approximate to said sprinkler which otherwise does not receive the volume of liquid applied to a more remote arcuate area. The curved portion 29a of the diverter curve 29 follows the curve of the smile in the nozzle head and is essentially parallel thereto.

Holes 30a and 30b, drilled downwardly and inwardly into head 27 and normal to the lines of tangency at opposite ends of the smile, respectively receive bent ends 29a and 29c ofthe wire deflector 29. Because of the downward and inward drilling of holes 30a and 30b, and the angled bend of the ends of wire deflector 29, as shown in FIG. 8, the deflector is held securely in place and is spring loaded to return to its proper position with respect to slit 28, wherever a force is applied to the wire and released. Thus, if for example, someone should step on a sprinkler unit, the curved portion 29a of wire 29 could be forced down until it engages the nozzle, but when the weight is removed the curved portion will spring up with respect to the secured ends 29b and 29c and will resume its assigned diverting position. The upstanding ring 18 taken most weight applied to the top of the nozzle and helps to prevent permanent deformation of the wire 29. i

The liquid diverted by the wire apparently tends to follow the curve of the wire to some extent and to be discharged along the direction of the bent ends in a somewhat greater volume than elsewhere. This results in a slightly heavier volumetric application to the areas A, than to the remainder area A, of the segment sprinkled. Since the areas A are frequently adjacent to concrete or asphalt surfaces this is a distinct advantage, for it is well known that vegetation growing adjacent to such heat absorbing and radiating structures requires more water for growth.

The sprinkler unit herein described is especially adapted for use in systems incorporating the sprinkler unit of my pending patent, Ser. No. 786,272, for lawn irrigation systems. The flange rests upon the ground surface and will prevent encroachment of grass into the nozzle. The boss 12 will extend to meet a subterranean irrigation system and will anchor the sprinkler in place and the nozzle of the present invention insures proper coverage throughout the entire segment of the nozzle without necessitating the extent of overlap heretofore generally required for sprinklers discharging in a circular or segment of a circle pattern.

The overall profile of the sprinkler is low to allow for ready clearance by lawn mowers and the like and, should a lawn mower strike any portion of the sprinkler, it would most likely be upstanding ring 18. This impact would warn the operator, who could take such corrective measures as may be necessary before the nozzle was damaged.

The sprinkler is inexpensive to construct, with the body 11 lending itself to manufacture by ejection molding, and is easily installed even by an inexperienced person.

Although preferred forms of my invention have been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler unit comprising a body having a downwardly projecting, threaded boss adapted to connect to a liquid supply system and a threaded passageway through said boss;

a circular flange formed from easily cut durable material extending outwardly from the boss;

an upstanding ring on the flange surrounding the upper end of the passageway;

a pair of score markings extending as chords across the circular flange and intersecting at a location outwardly of the ring;

means for attaching a turning tool to said body formed in said flange within the quadrant including the ring formed by said intersecting score markings;

an annular shoulder intermediate the length of the boss and projecting into the passageway;

a nozzle threaded into the upper end of the passageway above the annular shoulder such that the top surface of the nozzle is below the top of said upstanding ring, and the flange will keep vegetation from obstructing the flow through the nozzle, said nozzle including a housing having a threaded central bore therethrough, a screw threaded into the central bore and having a flange on one end thereof whereby said screw can be moved within the central bore to cooperate with the annular ring to regulate flow through the nozzle, a passage offset from the center passage, through which fluid flow is directed, a blind bore within said nozzle and spaced from a discharge end of said offset passage, a slit through the exterior side wall of said housing and intersecting the offset passage and the blind bore whereby liquid entering the nozzle through the offset passage is directed by the blind bore through the slit to be distributed over an area determined by the slit; and

a curved diverter wire having its ends secured to said nozzle head adjacent to the ends of said slit, which wire is curved to be parallel to and above the center of said slit a spaced distance therefrom and acts to divert upward and outward a portion of the liquid sprayed through said slit.

2. A sprinkler nozzle comprising a housing having an exteriorly threaded boss projecting from a head;

a threaded central passage through the housing;

a screw threaded into the central passage and having a flange on one end thereof;

a passage in the head offset from the center passage,

through which fluid flow is directed;

a blind bore within said housing and spaced from a discharge end of the offset passage, a slit extending through the exterior sidewall of said housing and intersecting the offset passage and the blind bore, whereby liquid entering the nozzle through the slit to be distributed over an area determined by the slit;

a curved diverter wire having its ends secured to .said head adjacent to the ends of said slit, said wire being curved to be parallel to and above the longitudinal center of said slit whereby it acts to divert upwardly and outwardly a portion of the liquid sprayed through said slit.

3. A sprinkler nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the ends of the deflecting wire are positioned in holes in the head adjacent to the ends of the slit, said holes extending downwardly and inwardly into said nozzle head.

4. A sprinkler nozzle as in claim 3, wherein the deflector wire ends are bent so as to fit into the downwardly and inwardly extending holes in the head and the wire is resilient, whereby a resiliency is exerted between said wire ends and the wire between them whenever the relative position of said wire with respect to the slit is altered, said resiliency acting to bias said deflector wire to its assigned position relative to said slit.

5. A nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the slit is curved in the form of a smile, with the ends thereof elevated slightly with respect to the center.

6. A sprinkler unit comprising a nozzle housing having a boss;

a passageway extending into said boss;

a slit discharging from the housing and intercepting the passageway, whereby liquid entering the passageway is sprayed through the said slit; and

a diverter wire spaced from said slit and extending parallel to said slit above the longitudinal center of the slit, whereby said wire skims off a portion of liquid sprayed from said slit and directs it upwardly and outwardly with respect to the sprinkler unit.

7 A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, wherein the ends of the wire are secured to the housing.

8. A sprinkler unit at in claim 7, wherein the wire has a curved portion extending parallel to the slit and is bent at its ends; and

holes are provided adjacent to the ends of the slit to receive the bent ends of the wire.

9. A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, further including i a body surrounding the nozzle and having a boss with a passage therethrough in communication with the passage in the nozzle and being adapted to be connected to a liquid supply system;

a circular plastic flange radiating outwardly from the boss;

an upstanding ring formed on the flange and surrounding the nozzle;

a score line marking formed on the flange as a chord of the flange and extending closely past the upstanding ring, said slit in the nozzle housing being positioned on the side of the nozzle housing opposite to the said score line markmg.

10. A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, further including a plastic body surrounding the nozzle, said body including a boss with a passage therethrough. in communication with the passage in the nozzle and adapted to be connected to a liquid supply system;

a circular flange radiating outwardly from the boss;

an upstanding ring formed on the flange and surrounding the nozzle;

a pair of score line markings extending as chords across the circular flange and intersecting outwardly of the ring; and

means formed in the flange for attaching a turning tool to said body, said means being in the quadrant formed by said intersecting score markings including the ring, and said slit being positioned in the side of the nozzle housing aligned with the quadrant including the ring.

* IF l 

1. A sprinkler unit comprising a body having a downwardly projecting, threaded boss adapted to connect to a liquid supply system and a threaded passageway through said boss; a circular flange formed from easily cut durable material extending outwardly from the boss; an upstanding ring on the flange surrounding the upper end of the passageway; a pair of score markings extending as chords across the circular flange and intersecting at a location outwardly of the ring; means for attaching a turning tool to said body formed in said flange within the quadrant including the ring formed by said intersecting score markings; an annular shoulder intermediate the length of the boss and projecting into the passageway; a nozzle threaded into the upper end of the passageway above the annular shoulder such that the top surface of the nozzle is below the top of said upstanding ring, and the flange will keep vegetation from obstructing the flow through the nozzle, said nozzle including a housing having a threaded central bore therethrough, a screw threaded into the central bore and having a flange on one end thereof whereby said screw can be moved within the central bore to cooperate with the annular ring to regulate flow through the nozzle, a passage oFfset from the center passage, through which fluid flow is directed, a blind bore within said nozzle and spaced from a discharge end of said offset passage, a slit through the exterior side wall of said housing and intersecting the offset passage and the blind bore whereby liquid entering the nozzle through the offset passage is directed by the blind bore through the slit to be distributed over an area determined by the slit; and a curved diverter wire having its ends secured to said nozzle head adjacent to the ends of said slit, which wire is curved to be parallel to and above the center of said slit a spaced distance therefrom and acts to divert upward and outward a portion of the liquid sprayed through said slit.
 2. A sprinkler nozzle comprising a housing having an exteriorly threaded boss projecting from a head; a threaded central passage through the housing; a screw threaded into the central passage and having a flange on one end thereof; a passage in the head offset from the center passage, through which fluid flow is directed; a blind bore within said housing and spaced from a discharge end of the offset passage, a slit extending through the exterior sidewall of said housing and intersecting the offset passage and the blind bore, whereby liquid entering the nozzle through the slit to be distributed over an area determined by the slit; a curved diverter wire having its ends secured to said head adjacent to the ends of said slit, said wire being curved to be parallel to and above the longitudinal center of said slit whereby it acts to divert upwardly and outwardly a portion of the liquid sprayed through said slit.
 3. A sprinkler nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the ends of the deflecting wire are positioned in holes in the head adjacent to the ends of the slit, said holes extending downwardly and inwardly into said nozzle head.
 4. A sprinkler nozzle as in claim 3, wherein the deflector wire ends are bent so as to fit into the downwardly and inwardly extending holes in the head and the wire is resilient, whereby a resiliency is exerted between said wire ends and the wire between them whenever the relative position of said wire with respect to the slit is altered, said resiliency acting to bias said deflector wire to its assigned position relative to said slit.
 5. A nozzle as in claim 2, wherein the slit is curved in the form of a smile, with the ends thereof elevated slightly with respect to the center.
 6. A sprinkler unit comprising a nozzle housing having a boss; a passageway extending into said boss; a slit discharging from the housing and intercepting the passageway, whereby liquid entering the passageway is sprayed through the said slit; and a diverter wire spaced from said slit and extending parallel to said slit above the longitudinal center of the slit, whereby said wire skims off a portion of liquid sprayed from said slit and directs it upwardly and outwardly with respect to the sprinkler unit.
 7. A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, wherein the ends of the wire are secured to the housing.
 8. A sprinkler unit at in claim 7, wherein the wire has a curved portion extending parallel to the slit and is bent at its ends; and holes are provided adjacent to the ends of the slit to receive the bent ends of the wire.
 9. A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, further including a body surrounding the nozzle and having a boss with a passage therethrough in communication with the passage in the nozzle and being adapted to be connected to a liquid supply system; a circular plastic flange radiating outwardly from the boss; an upstanding ring formed on the flange and surrounding the nozzle; a score line marking formed on the flange as a chord of the flange and extending closely past the upstanding ring, said slit in the nozzle housing being positioned on the side of the nozzle housing opposite to the said score line marking.
 10. A sprinkler unit as in claim 6, fuRther including a plastic body surrounding the nozzle, said body including a boss with a passage therethrough in communication with the passage in the nozzle and adapted to be connected to a liquid supply system; a circular flange radiating outwardly from the boss; an upstanding ring formed on the flange and surrounding the nozzle; a pair of score line markings extending as chords across the circular flange and intersecting outwardly of the ring; and means formed in the flange for attaching a turning tool to said body, said means being in the quadrant formed by said intersecting score markings including the ring, and said slit being positioned in the side of the nozzle housing aligned with the quadrant including the ring. 